CAMDEN — Another news conference, another rollout of the latest big thing in the privatization of public education — this time it was in Camden, and the idea was a for-profit management scheme that might help entrepreneurs make money running schools. But, despite Gov. Chris Christie’s description of the idea as "transformation," there are signs the governor’s crusade to privatize schooling may be losing momentum.

On the same day, miles away in Trenton, a man who should be one of Christie’s top supporters was trying to explain why he said expanding charter schools — a previous Christie latest big thing — might not be a good idea for wealthy suburban communities.

"I do believe there are differences," said state Sen. Thomas Kean (R-Essex), talking about the siting of charter schools in suburbs versus cities. He also said he believed "there should be a process for allowing local communities to provide input."

In a letter to what he conceded were "many" constituents opposed to new charter schools in their communities, Kean said "charter schools may not necessarily enhance a school district already performing on a higher level."

Hardly revolutionary statements — but they show he is feeling the heat from suburban school districts that don’t want what the Millburn schools superintendent calls "boutique" charters that siphon money and students from public districts. And Kean flatly refused to say whether he would oppose a bill giving communities veto power over new charters.

"The suburbs are roiling," says Julia Sass Rubin of Princeton, a spokeswoman for Save Our Schools-New Jersey, an advocate for local control of charter decisions.

But Kean’s wavering wasn’t the only sign oomph has been taken out of the privatization movement. Christie’s chief Democratic ally in the crusade for school vouchers — fresh from a brutal primary fight — says a "scale-down version" of the idea "might be the way to go."

State Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-Union) now says he wants a "laser-like" set of solutions aimed solely at "chronically failing" urban schools rather than the broad adoption of privatization, including charters, throughout the state.

Another legislator, state Sen. Dick Codey (D-Essex), who supports giving local communities the right to vote on charters and opposes vouchers, says he believes efforts by the administration to expand privatization has provoked a reaction in the suburbs.

"Many people support their public schools and they are reacting with anger to the idea they should be privatized," said Codey. "Suburban Republicans are caught between what Christie wants and what their constituents want."

Christie announced his support for "transformation schools" with an unlikely partner — Camden County Democratic boss George Norcross, a voucher supporter and a man the governor once said should have been investigated for criminal activity. Identifying privatization with old Democratic political machines also is not likely to enhance the idea among suburban residents.

Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak did not respond to repeated requests for comment. In the past, the governor has taken an expansive view of the role of privatization.

In one of his most controversial speeches — in Washington a year ago — the governor said the Educational Opportunity Scholarship Act, the voucher bill co-sponsored by Kean and Lesniak, "will lead to school vouchers across the state of New Jersey so choice is available to every parent." His administration also has expanded approvals for charter schools in suburbs.

James Crisfield, the Millburn schools superintendent, said he believes the reaction of parents in places like his town, Livingston, Summit, Westfield, Princeton and other wealthy suburbs "will give pause" to legislators eager to expand privatization.

Crisfield, however, is not necessarily opposed to charter expansion in the cities.

Rubin says she fears that kind of thinking will lead to allowing wealthy suburban residents to have a say over what sort of schools they have in their communities while urban residents are forced to accept charter and voucher schools.